"I'm an auto mechanic, not an economist. But I know that small businesses like mine form a vital jobs engine for the nation.
Today that engine stands idle. Small businesses are not hiring, and the overall economy is suffering for it.
With that in mind, I have a message for Congress, one that I ask other small business owners to join me in delivering: small businesses need customers, not additional tax cuts for the wealthy." --- Jim Houser

With the lame-duck congressional session under way, the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts has come to the fore. Politicians and economists like to talk about the relationship between small businesses and extending the tax cuts that benefit solely high-income households.

Even the rich will see the tax cut extended on their first quarter million. So everyone who pays taxes would not see a tax hike on the first $250k of their income if the GOP would simply vote yes on extending the cuts that the Democrats are proposing.

I am seeing a lot of businesses sitting on their money, not hiring and not buying equipment. Nor will they until there is some more certainty in the future. Two years ago a business couldn't hardly find a creditor. Now there are a few lenders who will loan money, but the businesses aren't going to spend in this current economic climate. This economy was not created by the Democrats, but they have definitely exacerbated it.

The businesses don't know what their taxes are going to be, the Obamacare bill is raising health insurance rates and the regulations for that "voted-on-while-the-ink-was-still-wet" health care bill are a movable famine.

Sure, if the Obama tax hikes go into effect, the certainty will increase hiring a little.

But not raising taxes on S corps and individuals will cause hiring to go up more.

To the U.S. Congress:

Protect our seniors and END the government's ability to garnish Social Security benefits.

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Note: This petition is sponsored by Blue Oregon Action, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Ron Wyden, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, Campaign for America's Future, People For the American Way, RootsAction, Social Security Works, and The Nation. By signing, you may receive emails from these sponsors updating you on the progress of this campaign and other important projects. (You may, of course, unsubscribe at any time.) Learn more.